A SPECIALIST council team was called in to help evacuate tenants and secure a block of flats after a car smashed into the side of the building and triggered a gas leak.

Charnwood Borough Councils building control team came to the rescue after a silver Mercedes punctured the side of the building and damaged a gas and electricity meter.

The cause of the incident, which happened at about 11am on Sunday, January 8, in Ferryman Road, in Loughborough, is currently under investigation.

But it is understood the car was doing a U-turn when the driver pushed the wrong pedal and accelerated into the flats.

No one was injured.

The council officers helped ensure the relevant agencies were co-ordinated to make the building safe which included carrying out repair work on the wall and evacuation of four tenants because of the gas leak and condition of the wall.